The 18 Therapies for Home Use

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Eighteen Therapies

A set of simple therapies which

“limber up and heal” RICHARD BERTSCHINGER



Tao Booklets 2009 eBook 2012

mytaoworld.com [email protected]

The Eighteen Therapies 1. Turning the Neck ................................................................... 2. Through the Keyhole ............................................................. 3. Reach for the Sky 4

Butterfly Wings

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5. Picking a Star

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6. Windmill Arms

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7. The Pine Tree

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8. Pushing Forward ..................................................................... 9. Pushing to the Side 10. Circling Waist

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11. The Waterwheel

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12. The Windmill

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13. Knee Circling

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14. Side to Side

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15. Bow, Bend and Stretch 16. Scooping Water

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17. Step Forward, Clasp Leg

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18. Strolling Through Fairyland ...............................................

1: NECK AND SHOULDERS These six moves work the neck, shoulders, arms, fingers. They improve liver function, relieve spasm and pain, and brighten the brain!

1. Turning the Neck Keep the body upright, turn slowly, chin should touch chest when looking down. Good for all neck tension. 2. Through the Keyhole When separating the hands, keep shoulders down. Hands should end up above shoulder level. Remember to lower hands each time. Works on chest and mid-upper back.

3. Reach for the Sky Bring fists up to and just above shoulders, then open hands and raise. Look to left hand and then to right.

4. Butterfly Wings When lifting elbows they should be kept higher than wrists. Emphasise a smooth action at all times.

5. Picking a Star Best to retain the lower arm behind the back, to protect the angular stretch. Ensure palm is directly above the head. Work smoothly.

6. Windmill Arms A very effective exercise for all shoulder and arm pains. Palms face upwards three times: as they rise initially, above the head at maximum stretch, and also when passing the shoulders coming down.

2: LOWER BACK

These six moves all strengthen the back, waist, spine and lower abdomen. The correct digest troubles, relieve bloating, strengthen fertility and power the legs!

7. The Pine Tree Again ensure you lower the arms between the left and right movements. Go easily. Eyes can look upward or forward. 8. Pushing Forward Stretch steadily, as if hauling on thick rope. Fingers upright works on the arm tendons; fingers and palm loose works more on the back.

9. Pushing to the Side Again stretch steadily, as if hauling on thick rope. You can also incorporate a twist of the waist if wished.

10. Circling Waist My favourite! You should take a minute to rotate one way and a minute back again. Pelvis as if frozen, gently sway the upper body.

11. The Waterwheel Bending forward easily, in circular fashion. The hands copy the movement of the buckets on the wheel.

12. The Windmill Again in a circular fashion. Try to keep legs straight if you want. Appreciate different forces at work! As always adjust to your need.

3: LEGS, HIPS AND ANKLES These six moves all strengthen the legs, knees, and ankles. The ensure flexibility of the joints, and relive pain and spasm. In addition they calm the mind and firm up the lower back.

13. Knee Circling Make careful moves, left, forward and back, right, forward and back, with the knees, supporting each other and palms covering. 14. Side to Side The feet form a large obtuse angle. Shift gradually side to side and look down at the opposite toes. Works a gem to loosen the hip joints.

15. Bow, Bend and Stretch Try to touch the instep with the palms as the stretch. Work at your own speed and own strength.

16. Scooping Water Persevere, this is an awkward move! Make sure the palm turns up rising in front of the face. Stay evenly balanced on the feet.

17. Step Forward, Clasp Leg Stand firm, lift the knee just the height right for you. Improves balance and prepares the mind for the final exercise.

18. A Stroll Through Fairyland Retain a pleasant frame of mind. Ensure the rear leg comes right to tip toe, thus moving from empty to full, open and closed.

GETTING STARTED These 18 Therapies comprise six for the neck and shoulders, six for the back and waist and six for the lower limbs and hips. Begin on the left. There is no need to perform the whole set but benefits are greater if they are gone through daily, for several weeks. Some variation is allowed. Several of the therapies lend themselves to extensions, or the like. Spontaneous movement is certainly allowed. The best judge is that the actions seem naturally called for and appropriate. Judging this is becoming aware of your own body’s needs! Sometimes ideas and thoughts may fill the brain. They should be peaceful and pleasant, not morbid! So be positive in your thought. Good thoughts indicate you are on the right path. But they should not be greatly attended to. If, some days, you feel lethargic or unable to perform, take a day off. It is good to mix up your activity, walk, kick a ball, do pushing hands, swimming or the like. And also to have a break sometimes. The rubric of activity and rest is essential to health. HISTORY This set of eighteen exercises is essentially constructed to heal soft tissue injuries; in addition the gentle moves aid in curing ailments of the organs. They also act in a preventative manner. Because of their graceful aspect they are ideally suited when we are less than 100%. They derive from a happy combination of doctors and physiotherapists working in Shanghai, during the 1970’s.

THE YANG, THE MIND, AND THE QI It is essential is to do something physical everyday.” One of the three joys of the ancient Chinese is the joy of being alive - the second is of being Yang. And Yang means movement. It is also natural to use the mind to direct the body’s movement. This is the mind attending to movement. Eventually, in the course of our movement, qi is summoned and the energy and blood move of their own accord through the body’s channels quite naturally. With beginners sometimes this can take some time, in some cases, even up to three months; but we can also be blessed with it happening immediately. It all depends upon your individual condition. This is the qi attending to movement. Eventually the movement encourages the qi, the moving qi brings blood flow; the joints become easier and the whole process becomes easier. Don’t get confused about qi. It is intrinsic to traditional Chinese medicine can simply mean enthusiasm, breath, energy - even emotion or interest, it certainly means we are alive! To some extent it is purposely non-descript. In Gestalt psychology it approaches the shape of the gestalt; in bio-energetics it is life itself; it is close to the micro-voltage flowing through the muscles. Both background and foreground are involved, Yin and Yang. You can usually feel it, if not see it!

The Eighteen Therapies

T

hese exercises are constructed both to heal and prevent soft tissue injuries. They most be performed purposely, slowly and surely, with the breath. Because of their graceful aspect they are ideally suited when we are less than 100%. They derive from a happy combination of doctors and physiotherapists working in Shanghai. I learnt them in China in 1986. Tao Booklets was founded in 2004 to present a true and faithful rendering of the Chinese medical and philosophical tradition. Richard

Visit my daily diary, at mytaoworld.com

For many years I have practiced these Eighteen Therapies and honestly never had a day’s sickness! (Rip Van Winkle)

None of this is a substitute for a doctor’s advice. If in doubt consult your GP.